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Welcome to Serbia and Montenegro
Located on the west-central Balkan Peninsula, Serbia and
Montenegro is a new state created in February 2003. Before
that date Serbia and Montenegro was what remained of the
former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). After a ten-year-long
civil war and with the formation of this new state, Yugoslavia
finally ceased to exist.
In 2003, these last two Yugoslav republics were transformed
into a loose confederation called Serbia and Montenegro,
which currently comprises Serbia, Montenegro and the autonomous
provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina. Serbia and Montenegro
currently have separate economic policies and currencies
and cooperate only in some political fields. They both may
seek full independence in the near future.
Despite all that turmoil of the last years, Serbia and Montenegro
is recovering and has a lot to offer. Serbia's capital of
Belgrade can't be beaten. Destroyed 40 times in its 2300-year
history, the city is flourishing once again and boasts a
lively center with plenty of cafes, shops and fine restaurants.
Its old town features Orthodox churches, Turkish baths,
Muslim tombs and medieval gates.
Montenegro's 93 miles (150 km) of coastline has some nice
long beaches backed by a spectacular limestone mountain
range. The Bay of Kotor features the largest fjord in southern
Europe.
Outdoor enthusiasts check out the Durmitor National Park.
Its most striking feature is the Tara Canyon, the second
largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the
USA. The park is also a great hiking area and in winter,
it transforms into a top skiing destination.
Security
Tensions over Kosovo's independence still remain high. Travelers
are advised to avoid the Presevo and Bujanovac areas of
southern Serbia. Also, isolated violent acts have occurred
in Belgrade and Podgorica. The autonomous region of Kosovo
still suffers from occasional attacks by extremists. But
in general, most visits to Serbia and Montenegro are trouble-free.
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